"Kagura! You won the championship by a crushing margin again this time. How do you feel?"
"Kagura! After your victory, rumors are already spreading online that next year's Triple Crown title has basically been reserved for you. What are your thoughts on that?"
"Kagura! Is there anything you'd like to say to your opponents?"
"Kagura—"
The reporters' clamor surrounded Kagura. After two overwhelming victories in a row, they seemed to have fallen into some kind of frenzy, completely forgetting about order as they crowded beneath the stage and fired off questions all at once.
So the only reason these paparazzi didn't dare act up last time was because Rudolf was standing behind me… Do I really look that easy to push around?
Feeling the scene slipping slightly out of control, Kagura suddenly found herself missing the days when Rudolf had been by her side. Sure enough, this kind of situation was a little hard for a twelve-year-old like her to control on her own.
Kagura roughly sorted through the questions being asked most often below. After her back-to-back wins, most people online, whether they were fans or other groups following the racing circle, seemed quite eager to see her take part in next year's Classic Triple Crown races. To be honest, though, Kagura had not yet arranged her races for next year. She had no intention of scheduling those kinds of races so soon.
As for the questions asking for her thoughts, honestly, Kagura hated them. At least half the people asking that sort of thing were trying to coax something out of her, then go back and quote it out of context. To put it less politely, they were the sort of "irresponsible information spreaders" who had been "ruined by journalism." This was also common sense she had learned from Rudolf, so whenever she answered these kinds of questions, she would try to keep her responses as official as possible, striving to be as airtight as Rudolf.
There were also even more excessive questions involving her personal privacy, which Kagura simply pretended not to hear. No matter where you went, the news industry was never short of people trying to dig up gossip.
She was rather puzzled, though. Why did those people think there was something between her and Rudolf? She and Rudolf were both girls. Besides friends and partners, what other kind of relationship could there be?
"Really now. A crowd this huge, all chattering around a twelve-year-old girl and asking question after question—do none of you understand that questions are meant to be asked one at a time? Or are you all acting this recklessly because you think a little girl is easy to bully?"
Just as the reporters were noisily surrounding Kagura with questions, and Kagura was beginning to feel a little worn down from dealing with them, another voice rang out from the back of the crowd. It was a neutral voice with a somewhat boyish quality. It was not loud, yet for some reason Kagura could hear it clearly, as if that voice had been transmitted straight into her mind.
At that reminder, everyone present unconsciously straightened up and turned back to look. Standing behind them was a tall, brown-haired Umamusume in a men's suit, giving off a clean, capable air. The brown-haired Umamusume took one step forward, and Kagura felt a presence radiating from her, though she did not feel as if she herself were being hit by an aura attack. It was clearly not aimed at her.
An aura attack directed at the crowd…? That person is…
Kagura stared at the other party's face in thought for a moment before finally remembering. This was the Student Council President of European Tracen, who had said a while back that she wanted to meet her after the race—the legendary Umamusume, Galileo.
Galileo's face showed no anger or displeasure. She simply stood there expressionless, yet that alone gave off an indescribable pressure. Perhaps that, too, counted as a mark of the strong.
"Who is this young lady…"
"No, wait. I saw her on the cover of that international magazine before!! She's the Student Council President of European Tracen!!"
"What!?"
The entire crowd immediately exploded into noise, and everyone's attention shifted to Galileo at once.
Of course, Galileo had no intention of accepting an interview this time. She had only come down from upstairs and entered the backstage area because she heard the commotion here growing especially loud and chaotic. Kagura was such a small child, with such a quiet personality, that Galileo guessed she probably could not control this rowdy pack of paparazzi.
"It seems someone recognizes me. Well, that is not important. Everyone, please quiet down. I am not here to accept interviews today. I merely happened to pass by and watch the race, witnessed the birth of a powerhouse, and came here because I wanted to speak with this runner."
As she spoke, Galileo began walking forward. The crowd consciously opened a path for her. The reporters fell briefly into a daze because of this unexpected situation, but soon, someone came back to their senses and took several photos. After all these years, no Student Council President from any other major region had ever come to Japan and given an evaluation like "witnessed the birth of a powerhouse." Even Rudolf had never received such an honor. Without a doubt, this would become an explosive topic.
When she reached Kagura's side, Galileo stood with her back to the reporters, gave Kagura a slight nod, and shot her a look, signaling that she could continue hosting the press conference.
"Thank you, Miss Galileo. Without you, I probably would have needed quite a while longer to restore order here."
Kagura replied in a volume only Galileo could hear. In reality, if she really could not bring the scene under control, Kagura could have called Mejiro Iris and Symboli Speed down from upstairs to help her take charge. She simply did not want to trouble the two elders over her own affairs. After all, there were so many people here, and the environment was noisy. It was not exactly suitable for elderly people to move around in.
Galileo said nothing more. She only walked behind Kagura and stood there in silence like a guardian statue, looking as dignified as a Jizō statue.
Kagura cleared her throat, picked the microphone back up, and said to the reporters below:
"Then, everyone who wishes to speak, please raise your hand and ask your questions in order. I have already answered some questions earlier, and I will not answer the same question a second time. Now, reporters who have prepared their questions, please raise your hands first."
...
Ah, Miss Galileo came at just the right time. I was still worrying about how to quiet down that noisy bunch. Sure enough, Student Council Presidents really do have a kind of pressure that can subdue other people!
——Of course. No matter where they are from, any Student Council President—even your Rudolf—is bound to have some ability. Isn't being able to keep ordinary people in check a basic skill? How else would they give speeches or make statements?
True… Rudolf can make everyone quiet down and listen just by standing there too.
——Mm-hmm~ I was even considering using your body to properly put that noisy lot in their place. This girl named Galileo arrived right on time and saved me quite a bit of trouble.
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